To Lie with Lions

House of Niccolò, Book 6

With the bravura storytelling and pungent authenticity of detail she brought to her acclaimed Lymond Chronicles, Dorothy Dunnett, grande dame of the historical novel, presents the House of Niccolò series. The time is the fifteenth century, when intrepid merchants became the new knighthood of Europe. Among them, none is bolder or more cunning than Nicholas vander Poele of Bruges, the good-natured dyer's apprentice who schemes and swashbuckles his way to the helm of a mercantile empire.

The year is 1471. Within the circus of statecraft, where the lions of Burgundy, Cyprus, England, and Venice stalk and snarl, Nicholas wields a valued whip. Having wrested his little son Jordan from his estranged wife, Gelis, he embarks on the greatest business scheme of his life—beginning with a journey to Iceland. But while Nicholas confronts merchant knights, polar bears, and the frozen volcanic wastelands of the North, a greater challenge awaits: the vengeful Gelis, whose secrets threaten to topple all Nicholas has achieved. Here is Dorothy Dunnett at her best. Robustly paced, prodigiously detailed, To Lie with Lions renders the quicksands of Renaissance politics as well as the turnings of the human soul, from love to hate and back.

©1995 Dorothy Dunnett (P)2023 Tantor

Fascinating novel!

The writing is breathtaking. Takes you away to a different time and place. A much needed distraction from the problems of our present day.

Fabulous listen

I have loved every book in this series. The reader is so amazing at bringing each of the many characters to distinct life. Highly recommended.

Riveting

I have read Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles and this Niccolo series, but listening to them, unabridged, brings a whole new level of understanding. This reader does an excellent job of giving the characters depth and dimension. I highly recommend this series to anyone willing to delve deep into historical events and tedious plots!

Same story as Lymond, not as well done

After six books, I just don’t care anymore. Neither of two main characters have any redeemable qualities and “the game” no longer of any interest.